Player of the Match
Player of the Match

England's bowlers have done their job to keep the team in the match. Australia's lead is 82, which is still good. A massive hour of play left for England's struggling top order. You feel they need to score 300 to have a chance in the last innings. James Anderson led the way with the ball - one of his best days in Australia - while Mark Wood was fast and hostile throughout. The others chipped and, to England's credit, there wasn't really a weak link today. They caught well, too. England's second innings will start in a few minutes

87.5
W
Wood to Boland, OUT, edged, taken at second slip! Wood gets a fully deserved second wicket. Back of a length outside off, Boland pushed at it and the thick edge is well taken by Crawley

SM Boland c Crawley b Wood 6 (19m 11b 0x4 0x6) SR: 54.54

87.4
0
Wood to Boland, no run, short outside off, not quite the venom of earlier, left alone
87.3
1
Wood to Starc, 1 run, driven again, square of the wicket, straight to deep point this time
87.2
2
Wood to Starc, 2 runs, round the wicket, full outside off, opens the face and steers it between deep point and third
87.1
3
Wood to Boland, 3 runs, goes full and straight, neatly clipped through midwicket and they can jog three

Thanks Miller. Australia's lower order has done very well here and they aren't finished yet. This is a handy lead on a tricky surface. Mark Wood returns

END OF OVER:
87 | 4 Runs | AUS: 261/9

  • Mitchell Starc21 (35b)
  • Scott Boland3 (8b)
  • James Anderson23-10-33-4
  • Ollie Robinson19.2-4-64-2

That will be drinks. Australia have reasserted themselves in spite of England's best efforts with the ball. Here's Gnasher

86.6
0
Anderson to Starc, no run, eased off the front foot from round the wicket, straight at short cover

sankar : "Will it be Jimmy's first fifer at MCG, if he gets one today??" It would be his second in Australia, after Adelaide in 2017-18

86.5
0
Anderson to Starc, no run, forward, inside-edged defence into the leg side
86.4
1
Anderson to Boland, 1 run, back of a length, nudged off the hip and Anderson is cross with himself for giving that away

England 3rd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st7H HameedZ Crawley
2nd0DJ MalanH Hameed
3rd15JE RootH Hameed
4th0JE RootMJ Leach
5th24JE RootBA Stokes
6th14JM BairstowJE Root
7th1JE RootJC Buttler
8th4JC ButtlerMA Wood
9th0JC ButtlerOE Robinson
10th3JM AndersonJC Buttler